The developer of the proposed warehouse in Dickinson Township (and evidently the supervisors) are asking township residents to give up a lot in allowing them a variance to build. Clean air, peace and quiet and traffic congestion — all will be compromised by this project: Quality of life will be worse if the warehouse is built.

There are many easy things that can be done at minimal cost that might lessen the environmental impact and thus lessen the opposition.

1. Insist that the developer install stationary idle reduction technology. (Typically these are kiosks that truckers can plug into when sleeping in cabs to get power to run HVAC, TVs and other devices. Actually, this would be a money maker for the developer.)

2. Insist on a large buffer of heavily planted land around the site, to serve as a visual screen, a noise buffer and a mechanism to reduce pollution.

3. Have the developer pay a significant development fee. Use that money to add to green space in the township.

4. Insist on energy-efficient development (such as LED lights).

5. Insist on vapor recovery hoses at all fuel pumps (the law in large urban areas already but not in Dickinson Township).

In short: the developer is asking township residents to give up a great deal; demand that the developer give something significant back in exchange. If this development indeed takes place, make it a poster child for how things can be done right.